Porsche’s stake in the Volkswagen Group – the world’s largest manufacturer of modern diesel engines for passenger cars – together with greater tax incentives for diesel owners in Europe are also key reasons for the decision.

The decision also paves the way for Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) to respond to local enquiry for a diesel engine in its SUV, and as such PCA will introduce the Cayenne Diesel in April 2009 – two months after the commencement of European sales.

Porsche will equip the Cayenne with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine producing 176 kW of power and 550 Nm of torque. This engine is supplied by Audi AG, a subsidiary of the VW Group.

The average fuel consumption of the Cayenne Diesel is 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres, with CO2 at 244 grammes per kilometre.

The spontaneous throttle response and the high torque characteristics of this diesel engine deliver the required performance levels for a sporty all-terrain vehicle such as the Cayenne. The substantial 550 Nm of torque complements the sporty chassis dynamics and provides a high degree of control to offer driving enjoyment that is typical of Porsche.

With the introduction of the Cayenne Diesel, Porsche is continuing its commitment to reduce fuel consumption across its range of sporting cars.

In March 2007 the new generation of the Cayenne series was introduced with direct injection petrol engines that improved fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent in real world driving conditions.

Most recently in September 2008 Porsche introduced the new 911 Carrera series with direct-injection petrol engines and optional PDK gearbox for greater efficiency. The sports car manufacturer is also working on another Cayenne variant with hybrid drive that will consume less than nine litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, to be launched at the end of the decade.